Always held in the highest regard by trainer Gary, the seven-year-old had been surprisingly beaten at Cheltenham last month, but put that blip right in emphatic style.

Kauto Stone led for a long way, but with Captain Conan never far away, and the latter jumped two out in front. Moore jnr was forced to switch wide turning for home on 7-4 joint-favourite Sire De Grugy but soon collared his fellow market leader and stormed clear after the last to beat the running-on Somersby by four lengths.

The winning jockey, brother of top Flat pilot Ryan, said: "I'm delighted for my dad. He just jumped a little bit left at a couple down the back, I don't know why, but that's where the ground is at its quickest and he probably does want a bit of dig in the ground.

"For me personally it is my best achievement - there was a bit of pressure as we love him to pieces."

Moore snr added: "It means the world, it's what you get up for, and it just goes to show it doesn't matter what you pay for them, as this was a cheap horse.

"A lot of top people passed him over but a lot of credit must go to Jamie, as he went and saw him and said 'you've got to buy this horse as soon as you can'."

The Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton over Christmas remains the next likely port of call for Sire De Grugy.

Trainer Gary Moore fulfilled an ambition of a first Grade One success in the two-mile feature, and to make the occasion even more memorable his stable star was ridden by his son, Jamie.